I Think: The media is more complain-oriented than solution-oriented
Jannat Jain, student, Golaghat (Assam)
I read the news once every two or three days, usually on apps like TOI, ET, Inshorts, or online. I make sure I read news of rape and sexual violence. Such headlines are not meant to be ignored.
This case I read of an eight-month-old baby girl being raped by her 28-year-old cousin in Delhi really shocked me. It’s inhuman. How did the thought even occur?
Each time I read such news reports, I think to myself, when will it stop? Will it stop? It’s very disturbing. I always think it could be me, or my friends. Men need to know that women are not objects they have unlimited rights upon.
The media is more complain-oriented than solution-oriented. Yes, all of us are in anger, given the increasing number of brutal rape cases. But the anger needs to be directed towards finding a solid solution to stop this. There is no point in igniting the anger of the readers further or to simply complain.
If I were a journalist, I would bring light as to why the incident happened at all — was it alcohol running in the man’s veins, or his upbringing and mentality that led him to this? We need to realise where the society is going wrong.
Initially the victim must be too shattered to give out a public reaction. So media should give the victim and the family some time to register what happened and come out of the shock. They should let them know they are with the victim and the family. They should let them know that they have the support from people all over the country— so that it gives the victim the courage to raise her voice.
But readers should be told, too. Keeping people ignorant is not a solution. If not detailed reports, at least an overview of all cases should be printed.
